WVTK Local & State News – March 8, 2018

A $1.4-million bond to repair Park Street in Brandon was approved on Town Meeting Day. The project would update the water, stormwater runoff, and wastewater systems under the road. Along with paving the street and adding vegetation to the space along the roadway. The project is set to begin this year and be done before next winter.

The sidewalks are getting replaced and repaired in Port Henry this spring. The project is out for bid right now. Bids are due by March 29th. The sidewalks on the east side of Main Street (Route 9N) from the top of Convent Hill to Stewart’s Shop will be replaced. The sidewalk at Glens Falls National Bank on the other side of Main Street also needs work. The town is using a state Department of Transportation grant for the work, which will include ornate light poles. The project will be awarded at the April 12th Town Council Meeting.

Census Bureau Field Representatives are scheduled to be collecting data in Middlebury this year. They will be collecting data for a number of surveys. All Census Bureau representatives will be carrying proper identification. For anything suspicious you may call the Middlebury Police Department or you can contact the Census Bureau New York Regional Office at 1-800-991-2520 for information and for any concerns on the legitimacy of the representative.

The Vermont Agency of Transportation is over budget on winter maintenance and has used a record amount of salt this winter. According to VTrans officials, the agency has spent $31.7 million on the season but only allocated $18.5 million. Last winter VTrans spent $36.9 million on winter maintenance, which is the highest spent on record. So far this winter, crews have applied nearly 134,000 tons of salt along state-managed roads. Last year VTrans used 130,605 tons of salt. More than 8,000 cubic yards of sand has also been applied.

A new senate bill hopes to regulate the short-term rental business in the state of Vermont. S.204 would require short-term rental hosts, like those that rent their rooms through AirBnB, to register with the state, pay a small annual fee and self-certify that their properties comply with health and safety codes. The certification process would also require short-term renters to acknowledge the 9-percent meals and rooms tax they’re required to pay the state.

Senator Bernie Sanders joined Senate Democratic leaders to announce a $1 trillion proposal to rebuild our nation’s crumbling infrastructure and create 15 million middle-class jobs. The announcement of the Democratic proposal follows the unveiling of President Donald Trump’s infrastructure plan, which would encourage states to sell our nation’s highways, bridges and other vital infrastructure to Wall Street, wealthy campaign contributors and foreign governments.